Connector for breathing conduits

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the connections between respiratory humidifiers and/or other such devices and heated breathing conduits used to couple a patient to the humidifier. In particular, the invention is a connector to couple a gases supply means and a conduit, such that the connector causes there to be an electrical and pneumatic, that is, sealed connection between a conduit including an electrical wire extending within, throughout or about it and a gases supply device, such as a humidifier, blower or the like. The connector may be of a single port type or a dual port type. The dual port type connector is suitable for ventilator apparatus that have a dry line (dry breathing conduit) extending from a ventilator or blower that carries dry gas to a humidifier and an inspiratory limb that extends from the humidifier to the patient and carries humidified gases to the patient.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates particularly, though not solely, tothe delivery of humidified pressurised oxygen and/or air to a patient.In particular, the present invention relates to the connections betweenrespiratory humidifiers and other such devices and heated breathingconduits used to couple a patient to the humidifier.

SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] In order to supply gases to a patient or a person needing suchgases, it may sometimes be necessary to first humidify those gases, forexample using a respiratory humidifier/ventilator system. In such a casewhere the gases have been humidified, and therefore laden with water, itis likely that during sport through a conduit to the patient,condensation of that water vapour will occur. In order to overcome thisdisadvantage it is known to associate a heater wire with respiratoryhumidifier breathing conduits to avoid condensation. Examples of such aheated breathing conduit are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,996(McPhee) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,770 (Clawson et al.). A connector thatsimply fits into the humidifier chamber outlet is currently known thatprovides for connection between a humidifier and a breathing conduit. Toprovide FIG. 1 illustrates how current is supplied to the heater wirewithin the breathing conduit and the connection between the conduit andhumidifier. The humidifier 102 has a humidification chamber 103 havingin inlet 104 that is connected to the outlet of a device that suppliesgases to the humidifier. The humidification chamber 103 also has anoutlet 105. A connector 106 causes the connection between the breathingconduit 101 and the outlet 105. The connector 106 is located at one endof the conduit 101. The end of the connector 106 fits snugly into orabout the outlet 105. The wire within the breathing conduit 108 isheated by way of the external connector 109 that is connected via knownelectrical wiring to the humidifier base 110.

[0003] Existing connectors of this type have the disadvantage that thereare external wires that may cause problems for the user and will be inthe way when in use. Furthermore, the connection between the breathingconduit and the humidifier outlet does not provide an optimalconnection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a connectorbetween a gases supply means and a heated breathing conduit that goessome way towards overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages.

[0005] In a first aspect the present invention consists in a connectorto couple a gases supply means and a conduit, where said conduitincludes electrical wire extending within, throughout or about saidconduit, said connector comprising:

[0006] a male portion of a generally tubular shape connected to one ofsaid gases supply means and said conduit, said male portion having alocking connector receiving means and an electrical connector receivingmeans,

[0007] a female portion of a generally tubular shape connected to one ofsaid gases supply means and said conduit, said female portion having alocking connector means and an electrical connector means,

[0008] wherein coupling of said male and female portions causes saidlocking connector means to engage with said locking connector receivingmeans and lock said male and female portions together, and said couplingsimultaneously causing said electrical connector means to engage withsaid electrical connector receiving means making a pneumatic seal andelectrical connection between said male and female portions andconsequently between said gases supply means and said conduit.

[0009] To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thedisclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and arenot intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] One preferred form of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

[0011]FIG. 1 is a connector used in prior art devices to provide theconnection between a breathing conduit and humidifier,

[0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a respiratory humidificationsystem that may incorporate the detection of conduit overheating systemof the present invention,

[0013]FIG. 3 is an illustration of a respiratory humidifier system thatutilises the connector of the present invention,

[0014]FIG. 4 is an illustration of the humidifier base of therespiratory humidifier system of FIG. 2, and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of apparatus that is used inconjunction with the connector of the present invention, wherein thegases supply means and humidifier are contained within an enclosure,

[0016]FIG. 6 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 5,

[0017]FIG. 7 is a side view of the heated gas delivery system asconnected to the connector of the present invention,

[0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the male portion of a first formconnector of the present invention, where the connector has a singleport,

[0019]FIG. 9 is a plan view of the male portion of the connector of FIG.8,

[0020]FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the male portion of theconnector of FIG. 7,

[0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the female portion of the firstform of the connector of the present invention,

[0022]FIG. 12 is a plan view of the female portion of the connector asshown in FIG. 9,

[0023]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the female portion of theconnector shown through A-A in FIG. 10,

[0024]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the male portion of a second formof the connector of the present invention, where the connector has adual port,

[0025]FIG. 15 is a partial cross-section side view of the male portionof the second form of the connector as shown in FIG. 12,

[0026]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the female portion of the secondform of the connector of the present invention,

[0027]FIG. 17 is a cross-section of the female portion as shown in FIG.15,

[0028]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the male as moulded to one end toa conduit according to a portion as third form of the present invention,

[0029]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the male portion of FIG. 18 whennot moulded to the conduit,

[0030]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the female portion of theconnector according to a third form of the present invention,

[0031]FIG. 21 is a underneath view of the male portion of the connectorof the third form of the present invention,

[0032]FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional side view of the male portion of FIG.18,

[0033]FIG. 23 is an alternative side cross-sectional view of the maleportion of FIG. 19,

[0034]FIG. 24 is a underneath view of the female portion of FIG. 20,

[0035]FIG. 25 is a side view of the female portion of FIG. 20,

[0036]FIG. 26 is a plan view of the female portion of FIG. 20, and

[0037]FIG. 27 is an illustration of a humidifier or CPAP device wherethe chamber for this device is of the cartridge type and the connectorto the breathing tube is two part, the first pneumatic part located onthe chamber and the second electrical part is located on the base, and

[0038]FIG. 28 is an illustration of the device of FIG. 27 when connectedto the breathing tube when the breathing tube end connector extends overand about the two part connector of FIG. 27.

[0039]FIG. 29 is a first perspective view of a sliding cover of aconnector according to fourth form of the present invention,

[0040]FIG. 30 is a second perspective view of the sliding cover of FIG.29,

[0041]FIG. 31 is a first perspective view of the female portionaccording to the fourth form of the connector of the present invention,

[0042]FIG. 32 is a second perspective view of the female portion of FIG.31,

[0043]FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the male portion according to thefourth form of the connector of the present invention,

[0044]FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the breathing conduit attached tothe female portion of the fourth form of the connector of the presentinvention, where the sliding cover is only partially covering the femaleportion,

[0045]FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the breathing conduit, femaleportion and sliding cover where the cover in a position that enableslocking of the female portion to the male portion, and

[0046]FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the breathing conduit, femaleportion and sliding cover as shown in FIG. 25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] With reference to the accompanying drawings and in particular toFIG. 2, an example of humidification apparatus and respiratoryhumidification system incorporating preferred embodiments of theconnector of the present invention is illustrated. In the descriptionbelow, reference has been made to the connection of a breathing conduitto a humidifier, it must be appreciated that the connector of thepresent invention may be used to connect a breathing conduit to othermedical devices, such as a positive pressure ventilation devices,continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, insufflationdevices, integrated insufflation and humidification devices, integratedCPAP and humidifier devices, or any other such breathing assistancedevice that can be used in either home-care or hospital applications.The use of the word humidifier alone must not be seen as restrictive tothe application or use of the connector of the present invention.

[0048] Included in the example respiratory humidification system asshown in FIG. 2, is a gases supply means 1, such as a ventilator orblower, having an outlet 2 that supplies gases (for example oxygen,anaesthetic gases or air) to the inlet 3 of a humidification chambermeans 4 via a conduit 6. Humidification chamber means 4 may, forexample, comprise a plastics formed chamber having a metal base 7 sealedthereto. Humidification chamber 4 is adapted to hold a volume of water8, which is heated by a heater plate means 9 under the control ofcontroller or control means 11 of a humidification device or humidifier10.

[0049] As the water within chamber 4 is heated it will slowly evaporate,mixing water vapour with the gases flow through the humidificationchamber from ventilator 1. Accordingly, humidified gases leave thehumidification chamber 4 via outlet 12 and are passed to a patient orother person in need of such gases 13 through a gases transportationpathway or inspiratory conduit 14. The conduit 14 is connected to theoutlet of the humidifier chamber by way of a connector that will bedescribed below. In order to reduce condensation within the inspiratoryconduit 14 and to raise the temperature of the gases provided to thepatient 13 a heating wire means 15 is provided which is energised underthe control of control means 11.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show the humidifier 10 of FIG.2 in more detail. The humidifier 20 has a humidifying chamber 21 havingedges, which engage with collar 22 on the humidifier 20. The gases to behumidified may be a mixture of air, oxygen and anaesthetic for example,which are supplied to the chamber through gas inlet 23. This might beconnected to a ventilator, source of pressurised oxygen, flow generator,or air compressor. A gases outlet 24 is also provided and the gasesoutlet 24 is connected to the conduit 25, which conveys humidified gasesto the patient at the end 26 of the conduit. The end 26 of the conduitmay have a cannula connected to the patient's nose, nasal mask orfacemask connected to the user's face, so as to supply humidified gasesto the user. The humidifier heater plate 27 has a temperature transducer28 that is in electrical connection with the electronic controlcircuitry in body 29 of the apparatus so that the control means monitorsthe temperature of the heating plate.

[0051] A heating element 30 is provided within the conduit 25 to helpprevent condensation of the humidified gases within the conduit. Suchcondensation is due to the temperature of the walls of the conduit beingclose to the ambient temperature, (being the temperature of thesurrounding atmosphere) which is usually lower than the temperature ofthe humidified gases within the conduit. The heater element effectivelyreplaces the energy lost from the gases through conduction andconvection during transit through the conduit. Thus the conduit heaterelement ensures the gases delivered are at an optimal temperature andhumidity.

[0052] The end of the conduit 25 has a connector 31 suitable forcoupling the conduit to the humidifier. The connector comprises a maleportion attached to the humidifier and a female portion attached to thebreathing conduit, which when coupled provides both a pneumatic andelectrical coupling between the humidifier chamber and breathingcircuit. The effect of the electrical connection in this manner, is thatthe electrical wire running the length of the conduit is controllablefrom the humidifier without there being additional external wiring fromthe humidifier to the conduit that could be accidentally removed by apatient or user. The connector is described in more detail below.

[0053] Integrated Gases Supply Means and Humidifier Apparatus

[0054] In an alternative application, the connector of the presentinvention may be used with a humidifier that has been integrated with agases supply means is shown in FIG. 5. The gases supply means (such as ablower, ventilator or insufflator) and humidifier are housed within anenclosure 33. The enclosure 33 has a recess 34 that provides an area fora humidifying chamber 35 to be located in. The chamber 35 is situatedupon a heater plate 36, which is connected to electronics that heat theplate 36, and enables humidification of the gas within the chamber whenthe chamber has water placed within it.

[0055] Referring now to FIG. 6, the chamber 35 has an entry port 40 thatis connected to the outlet of the gases supply means housed within theenclosure 33, and an exit port 41 that has connected to it the breathingconduit (see FIG. 7) that carries the gas to the patient.

[0056] External to the enclosure is the breathing conduit, which isshown in FIG. 7. This takes warm, humid gas from the enclosure anddelivers it to the patient, maintaining temperature and humidity of thegas. The conduit 42 comprises a tube 43, connector 44, spiral wire 45and end 46, for use to connect the breathing conduit to the patient.

[0057] The enclosure end of the tube has a connector 44 suitable forconnecting to the gas outlet of the humidifier and an electrical socketsuitable for connecting to the electrical outlet of the humidifier (notshown) within the enclosure 33. The connector 44 and electrical socketare described in more detail below. Within the tube 43 is a spiral woundheater wire 45, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,951 orU.S. Pat. No. 6,078,730 (Fisher & Paykel Limited) running inside partof, or all of the length of the tube 43. The terminations of this heaterwire are connected to the electrical socket of the connector 44.

[0058] Single Port Electrical/Pneumatic Connector

[0059] The connector of the present invention in a first form is asingle port connector, which provides the connection between ahumidifying apparatus and a breathing conduit having heating wire, suchas a conduit as described above. The connector comprises a male portionattached to a humidifier chamber and a female portion attached to theheated breathing circuit so that in use when the male and femaleportions are coupled together, a pneumatic and an electrical coupling isachieved between the breathing circuit and humidifier or other suchdevice, such as a positive pressure ventilation device or blower.

[0060] The male portion of the first form of a connector in accordancewith the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. The male portion201 of the connector is generally tubular in shape, having a base 202that is attached, in an appropriate manner, to the chamber of thehumidifying apparatus. In some forms of this connector the base 202 willbe the body of the humidifying chamber itself, but in other forms thebase may be clipped, welded, moulded or otherwise appropriately attachedto the chamber or base of the humidifier. The male portion itself isseparately injection moulded, but in the male portion may be mouldedintegrally with the humidifier chamber. For example, in some cases themechanism that provides the pneumatic sealing between the humidifier andthe conduit could be separately attached to the chamber of thehumidifier, but be freely removable and be sealed by way of an O-ring orother appropriate means to the humidifier.

[0061] Extending from the base 202 of the male portion is the body 203and further extending from the base 202 and within the body 203 is atubular protrusion 204. As can be seen in FIG. 10 the tubular protrusion204 extends through the body section 202 and abuts the circular recess205 located in the base of the male portion, in order to allow gases toflow trough the male portion from the chamber.

[0062] Located on the body 203 of the male portion is an electricalsocket 205 having conductors 206, 207. On the wall of the body there aretwo elongate apertures 208, 209 that serve to receive complimentaryprotrusions on the female portion, so that when the male and femaleportions are coupled the protrusions reside within the apertures on themale portion causing a pneumatic connection.

[0063] In use, gases flow from the humidifying chamber trough the recess205 into the tubular protrusion 204 then into the female portion of theconnector attached to the breathing conduit, and finally through intothe breathing conduit to the patient.

[0064] The female portion of the connector will now be described withreference to FIGS. 11 to 13. The female portion 210 is a generallytubular member that is attached about or within the breathing conduit(not shown) in an appropriate manner. The female portion 210 ismanufacture by injection moulding from a plastics material but otherappropriate methods of manufacture or materials may be used. The femaleportion 210 comprises a sleeve 211 having an electrical port 212 andprotrusions 213 located on either side of he outer wall. Extendingwithin the sleeve 211 is a port 214 that is also tubular in shape. Theelectrical port has pins or contact surfaces located within it (notshown) that are connected to the heater wire (as already described)residing within or about the breathing conduit. Soldering or fasteningthe heater wire to the pins or contact surfaces by appropriate-fasteningmeans causes connection from the electrical port 212 to the heater wire.The pins or contact surfaces can be either moulded into the port 212during the moulding of the female portion, or may be inserted into theport 212 after moulding.

[0065] When the male portion 201 and female portion 210 are coupled thetubular protrusion 204 slides between the tubular port 214 and thesleeve 211. Simultaneously the protrusions 213, 215 fit into theapertures 208, 209 and the electrical port 212 fits into the socket 205.Thus the meeting of the male and female portion achieves a simultaneouselectrical and pneumatic connection to be made.

[0066] The protrusions 213, 215 and apertures 208, 209 also have theeffect of providing a quick release mechanism that allows user-friendlyand efficient release of the circuit from the humidifier. When a userwishes to remove the male portion from the female portion they need onlypush the protrusions 213, 215 inward releasing them from the apertures208, 209 and remove the male portion from within the female portion.

[0067] In further forms of the connector as described above, a taper maybe provided on the inner walls of the female or male portions and agasket placed in between the two surfaces. Alternatively, a thread or abayonet type fitting could be used to create the pneumatic seal insteadof the taper and/or quick release mechanism described above.

[0068] The conductors referred to above may be assembled with the maleportion then over-moulded, or may be inserted into the electricalconnector on the male portion after the portion has been moulded.Alternatively, a separate sub assembly with the conductors could beformed and threaded onto the conduit, and then over-moulded.

[0069] In preferred forms of the present invention, a small indicator,such as an LED, is embedded in either the male or female portion of theconnector to allow for visual confirmation of an active circuit, so asto indicate both an electrical connection and a pneumatic seal.

[0070] The heater wire located within the breathing conduit could alsobe accompanied by at least one additional electrical lead that can alsocarry signals from measuring sensors placed at the end or atintermediate positions along the conduit. Furthermore, the heater wireitself could be used to carry electrical signals from measuring sensors.When additional leads are supplied additional pins and/or contacts aresupplied within the electrical part of the connector.

[0071] A second form of a “single port” connector according to thepresent invention is shown in FIGS. 18 to 26. This connector iscomprised of a generally tubular shaped male portion 400 and similarlyshaped female portion 401, where the male portion is fittable within thefemale portion. Referring to FIGS. 18, 19, 22 and 23 it can be seen thatthe female portion 401 has a tubular pathway 402 through it, to allowgases to pass through the portion 401 into the conduit 403. The femaleportion 401 is a thermoplastic insert that has a body section 405 and athreaded end 404 that is of a reduced diameter compared to the bodysection 405. The body section 405 has a protrusion 406 that defines anelectrical port or recess when the female portion is moulded to theconduit 403. The electrical port 406 is of generally rectangular shapeand extends from the outer surface of the body section 405.

[0072] The insert 401 is attached to the conduit 403 by threading theconduit about the end 404. The conduit and insert 401 are then overmoulded, where a number of recesses 422 located on the outer surfaceedge of the insert 401 nearest the threaded end 404 allow the plasticsmaterial used for moulding (such as a thermoplastic elastomer) to flowinto the insert, forming a gasket. After moulding the plastics materialfrom the moulding forms an outer surface covering 406 of thermoplasticelastomer over the conduit and insert.

[0073] Additionally, at least one pivoting member 408 is integrallyformed in the polycarbonate body section 405 of the insert 401. Thepivoting member is a portion of the standard tubular shape of the bodysection that is defined by channels 409 cut from the body section toleave a bridging member. In cross-section as shown in FIG. 23, the bodysection has two pivoting members 408, 410, where the thickness of theupper arms 411, 412 of the pivoting members increases nearer the top ofthe arms 411, 412, forming an outwardly extending protrusion from thesurface of the body section 405. The lower arms 413, 414 have smallinwardly extending protrusions 415, 416 that engage with the maleportion of the connector 400, forming a pneumatic connection between themale and female portions of the connector when these are coupled. As canbe seen in FIGS. 18, 21, 22 and 23 once the insert 401 and conduit 403are over moulded, protuberances 417, 418 are formed in the outercovering 407 by the top edges of the upper arms 411, 412. The pivotingmember 408 acts such that when the protuberances 417, 418 are pushedinwards the upper arms 411, 412 are moved inwards causing the lower arms413, 414 and small protrusions 415, 416 to pivot outwards.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 22, before the over moulding of the insert andconduit, pins 420 are inserted into the recess 419 in the electricalport 406. Each of the pins is connected by appropriate means to thewires within the conduit. For example, each pin can be soldered to aconnecting wire 421 and then the other end of this wire is soldered tothe wires extending about or within the conduit. Again, this type ofconnection allows for power to be supplied to the conduit withoutexternally running wires.

[0075] Reference is now made to FIGS. 20, 24, 25 and 26, whichillustrate various views of the male portion 400 that couples with thefemale portion 401 of the alternative form of a single port connector ofthe present invention. The male portion 400 is generally tubular inshape, to allow gases to flow through the portion, but the diameter ofthe portion 400 decreases slightly, near the connection end 423, forminga tapering end on the portion 400. Partway along the portion 400 is agroove 425, spanning the circumference of the portion 400, in which thesmall protrusions 415, 416 on the female portion 401 fit or clip intowhen the connection end 423 of the male portion 400 is coupled to thefemale portion.

[0076] Located below the groove 425 is a rim 427, which prevents themale portion 400 from being pushed to far into the female portion 401.Located on one part of the oval shaped rim 427 is a rectangular shapedprojection 426, forming an electrical connector, which houses elongaterecesses that receive the pins 420, when the male and female portionsare coupled. At the base of the elongate recesses is an electricalcontact that is connected via standard wiring 428 to the power supply,usually retained within the humidifier control mechanisms.

[0077] In use, once the male portion 400 is attached to the humidifierand the female portion 401 moulded to the conduit 403, a connection isformed between the conduit 403 and the humidifier by coupling the maleand female portions together. Once coupled a pneumatic connection ismade as the tubular body of the male portion fits within the tubularportion of the female body and the small protrusions 415, 416 clip intothe groove 425, preventing removal of the male portion from the femaleportion. Simultaneously, the projection 426 on the male portion extendsinto the recess 419 in the electrical connector 406 on the femaleportion 401 and the pins 420 extend into the elongate recesses in theprojection 426, thus an electrical connection is formed between theconduit wiring and the humidifier.

[0078] To remove the male portion from the female portion a user issimply required to apply pressure to the protuberances 417, 418 formedin the outer covering 407 of the female portion thereby releasing thesmall protrusions 415, 416 from the groove 425 on the male portion. Themale portion can then simply be removed from within the female portion,thereby disconnecting the electrical connection between the twoportions.

[0079] The male portion 400 is separately attached by appropriate meansto the outlet of a humidifier chamber at the inlet end 424 of the maleportion 400. Although in other forms the male portion 400 may be formedintegrally with the chamber of the humidifier, forming the outlet portof the chamber.

[0080] A third form of a “single port” connector according to thepresent invention as shown in FIGS. 29 to 36 a connector in this form iscomprised of three parts, a sliding collar 600, a female portion 601 anda male portion 602, where the male portion is fittable within the femaleportion and the sliding collar slides over and about the female portion601. The three parts, the sliding collar 600, the female portion 601 andthe male portion 602, are generally tubular in shape to allow gases topass through the tubular pathway formed between the male and femaleportions. Each of these portions is injection moulded in a plasticsmaterial, but other appropriate methods of manufacturing may be used.The sliding collar is preferably moulded from acetyl, and the male andfemale portions from polypropylene, but other appropriate materials suchas other thermoplastic materials may be used.

[0081] The sliding collar as depicted in FIGS. 29 and 30 is of agenerally tubular shape where the collar has two sections an uppersection 603 and lower section 604. The lower section 604 is oval incross-section and tapers inwards (in a reducing diameter fashion) to theupper section 603 that becomes circular in cross-section at its edge605. Located on the exterior surface of the lower section 604 aredepressions 606 that are the shape and size of a human finger pad sothat the depressions 606 form a gripping surface for a user's fingers.As shown in FIG. 30, on the interior surface of the lower section 604,on the lower edge 607 at least one but preferably two spaced apart smallprotrusions 608 are integrally moulded in the collar 600. Theseprotrusions 608 slide within complimentary slots in the female portion601 when the collar 600 is slid over the female portion 601.

[0082] Referring now to FIGS. 31 and 32, which depicts the femaleportion 601 of the connector of the third form. The female portion 601has upper and lower sections 609, 610 and is of a corresponding shape,but slightly smaller in diameter, to the sliding collar 600. Therefore,the upper section 609 reduces in diameter from the lower section 610 toan outer and upper edge 611. Integrally formed within the lower sectionare two pivoting members 612, 613, where the free end 614 forms aflexible member that is movable out of the plane of the sides of thelower section 610. The free ends 614 are moulded so that they protrudeout of the surface of the lower section 610. The other pivoting end 615of the pivoting member 612 is attached to the upper edge 616 of thelower section 610. The pivoting members 612, 613 are flexible and soallow the free ends 614 to be pushed inwards past the external surfaceof the female portion 601. Located on the surface of the lower section610 is a dimple for aperture 617 that receives a complimentary shapedprotrusion located on the inner surface of the sliding collar 600 whenthe collar 600 is slid over and about the female portion 601. Formedwithin the lower section 610 is a electrical port or recess 618 thathouses pins as shown in FIG. 35, which will be described in more detailbelow.

[0083] The female portion 601 is moulded in a polypropylene or otherappropriate plastics material over the tube 619 as shown in FIGS. 34 to36. Referring to FIG. 35 during or before the moulding of the femaleportion 601 over the tube 619, the wires (that reside within thebreathing conduit bead 620 encircling the conduit 619), are connected tostandard wiring and subsequently to electrical pins 621 residing withinthe recess 618 formed during the moulding process.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 33 that depicts the male portion 602 of theconnector of the present invention. The male portion 602 is formed froma plastics type material by injection moulding, but may be formed fromother appropriate materials using other appropriate methods. The maleportion is generally tubular in shape to allow gases to pass therethrough. It has a main body 622 that has a rim 623 located near to oneend of the body 622. The other end of the body 622 terminates in ano-ring 624 that causes the sealing between the male portion 602 and thefemale portion 601 when in use. Where the top of the rim 623 extends outfrom the side of the body 622 there is a elongate protrusion 625 of theshape and size of the recess 618 formed in the female portion 601extending out and upward from the surface of the rim 623. Within theprotrusion 625 are elongate recesses 626 that receive the pins 621 whenthe male portion 602 is inserted within the female portion 601.

[0085] Located partway along the body 622 of the male portion 602 aretwo horizontal recesses, of which only one is shown in FIG. 33. Therecesses 627 are shallow and located on the outer surface of the body622, but do not extend through to the inner surface of the body 622.

[0086] In use, once the female portion 601 has been moulded to thebreathing conduit 619 the siding collar 600 is slid over the conduit andabout the female portion 601. FIG. 34 shows the sliding collar onlypartially covering the female portion 601, whereas in FIGS. 35 and 36show the sliding collar 600 covering all of the female portion 601. Tolock the sliding collar 600 about the female portion 601 the protrusion(not shown) on the inner surface of the collar 600 is received by thesmall protrusion 617 on the female portion. To remove the collar fromthe female portion 601 the user need only grip the collar at thedepressions 606 and pull the collar upwards to remove it from the femaleportion 601. Other means of locking the collar to the female portion areenvisaged, such as twisting the collar about the female portion afterthe collar is slid onto the female portion, or a bayonet type orfrictional fitting.

[0087] When the male portion is connected to the chamber of a humidifierby appropriate means, or if it is integrally moulded with the humidifierchamber, wires 627 extend from the male portion 602 to the humidifierheater base or other power source connected to the humidifier. Thesewires 627 terminate within the protrusion 625 at contacts within therecesses 626 so that when the female portion is coupled with the maleportion the pins 621 slide into the elongate recesses 626 and meet withthe contacts forming an electrical connection between the humidifier andwires on the breathing conduit.

[0088] In use, a pneumatic connection is caused between the male andfemale portion when the male portion 602 is inserted within the femaleportion 601 and the pivoting members slide along the body 622 of themale portion 602 and into the horizontal recesses 627. The inside edgesof the pivoting members have lips 628 that extend inwardly. When thesliding collar 600 is passed down over the female portion 601 thepivoting members are pushed inwards and the lips 628 are pushed into therecesses 627 on the body 622 of the male portion 602. If an upwardpulling force was placed upon the breathing conduit 619 the lockingtogether of the male and female portions prevents the breathing conduitand female portion from being removed from the male portion and chamber.Furthermore, the o-ring 624 meets with the inner surface of the uppersection 609 of the female portion creating a seal between the male andfemale portions.

[0089] Cartridge Type Humidifier and Connector

[0090] In other forms of the present invention, such as that shown inFIG. 27, the electrical connector part 500 of a male connector, similarto that described above, is located on the base 503 of a humidifier 504.The humidifier 504 has a cartridge type chamber 502 that has thepneumatic connector part 501 of the male connector located on it. Asshown in FIG. 28 when the female portion of the connector 505 (attachedto the end of a breathing conduit 506) is connected to the male portions(both the pneumatic 501 and electrical 500 parts) the female portion 505fits over both the pneumatic part 501 and electrical part 500 causingboth a pneumatic and electrical connection to be made between thebreathing conduit 506 and humidifier 504.

[0091] Dual Port Electrical/Pneumatic Connector

[0092] During use of ventilator apparatus in a hospital, where there isa humidifier and at least one breathing conduit, a connector of anotherpreferred form of the present invention might be utilised. Someventilator apparatus used in hospitals are provided with a dry line (drybreathing conduit) extending from the ventilator or blower that carriesdry gas to the humidifier. A further breathing conduit, an inspiratorylimb, extends from the humidifier to the patient and carries humidifiedgases to the patient. A connector that can be used with such a systemwill now be described.

[0093] The male portion 300 of a dual port cartridge connector is shownin FIGS. 14 and 15. The dual cartridge connector provides two pneumaticconnections, one between the dry line and the humidifier, and the otherbetween the inspiratory limb and the humidifier. This connector alsoprovides for an electrical connection from the humidifier to the wiresresiding in each of the dry line and inspiratory limb. The male portion300 has four tubular shaped protrusions that each defines a port 301,302, 303, 304. The first port 301 is connected to the conduit of the dryline, and the second port 302 is connected to the conduit of theinspiratory limb. The third 303 and fourth 304 tubular shaped ports areconnected via a female portion 305 (as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17) to thehumidifier. The male portion also has located on it a rectangular shapedrecess 306 that has contacts within it that meet with the electricalwires running within or about the tubes.

[0094] To provide a pneumatic connection between each of the tubes and ahumidifier the third 303 and fourth 304 ports are inserted intocomplementary shaped recesses 307, 308 in the female portion 305 and alatch (not shown) is inserted in a recess that causes the locking of themale and female portions together. The latch may be formed integrallywith the female portion, residing approximately where the electricalprotrusion 309 is located. Similarly, the recess may be integrallyformed with the electrical recess 306 of the male portion. Alternativelyboth the latch and recess may be formed in the male and female portionsat other appropriate locations. On insertion, a simultaneous electricalconnection is made as the rectangular shaped electrical protrusion 309located on the female portion 305 is inserted into the electrical recess306 of the male portion 300. The electrical protrusion 309 is connectedto wiring within the humidifier and subsequently to the controlmechanisms within the humidifier, to provide power to the electricalwiring and to control the heating of the conduit, or to pick up signalssent through the wiring, similar to that as described above.

[0095] The female portion 305 may form part of the chamber of thehumidifier or may be attached by appropriate means to the humidifier,similar to that of the single port form of the connector as describedabove in relation to FIGS. 8 to 13.

[0096] The male 300 and female 305 portions are each injection moulded.In some cases the female portion 305 may be integrally injection mouldedwith the humidifier chamber. Each of these portions may be formed byother appropriate methods.

[0097] A dual port connector of this type allows for the connector to beeasily dismantled and cleaned. Furthermore, the connector part, beingmade from a plastics type material is inexpensive to manufacture andwill give hospitals and patients the option to dispose of the connectorrather than to clean and disinfect the connector for reuse.

We claim:
 1. A connector to couple a gases supply means and a conduit,where said conduit includes electrical wire extending within, throughoutor about said conduit, said connector comprising: a male portion of agenerally tubular shape connected to one of said gases supply means andsaid conduit, said male portion having a locking connector receivingmeans and an electrical connector receiving means, a female portion of agenerally tubular shape connected to one of said gases supply means andsaid conduit, said female portion having a locking connector means andan electrical connector means, wherein coupling of said male and femaleportions causes said locking connector means to engage with said lockingconnector receiving means and lock said male and female portionstogether, and said coupling simultaneously causing said electricalconnector means to engage with said electrical connector receiving meansmaking a pneumatic seal and electrical connection between said male andfemale portions and consequently between said gases supply means andsaid conduit.
 2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said gasessupply means is a humidifier.
 3. A connector according to claim 1wherein said gases supply means is an integrated blower and humidifier.4. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said gases supply means is apositive pressure ventilation device.
 5. A connector according to claim1 wherein said locking connector means is a recess located on theexternal surface of said male portion.
 6. A connector according to claim1 wherein said locking connector means is a thread disposed upon theexternal surface of said male portion.
 7. A connector according to claim1 wherein said locking connector means is a bayonet type fitting locatedon said male portion.
 8. A connector according to claim 1 wherein anelectrical socket is located on the external surface of said maleportion, said electrical socket having at least one first electricalcontact surface and being connected to a power supply.
 9. A connectoraccording to claim 1 wherein said locking connector receiving means is aprotrusion shaped to engage with said recess to cause the locking ofsaid male and female portions together.
 10. A connector according toclaim 1 wherein said locking connector receiving means is a threaddisposed upon the internal surface of said tubular shaped femaleportion.
 11. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said electricalconnector receiving means is a recess having at least one secondelectrical contact surface shaped to receive said electrical socket andsaid pins, such that electrical contact is made between said first andsecond electrical contact surfaces.